Page 56 of Captured
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Rakir
Juliet is still sleeping. It’s been hours and no matter how hard I try, she won’t wake up. She’s so fragile, so lonely on the narrow medical bed, my gut twists in worry as I look at her.
“What do the Healers say?” Darhk asks with no emotion, no warmth as he stands behind me.
I shoot my brother a glance, tempted to reprimand him for his lack of empathy, but I don’t. Darhk is Darhk. No one knows why his heart is the way it is and it is not my place to hold it against him.
“They assure me she’s in good health, that she’s only recovering from shock.”
They say that her long slumber is her brain’s way of protecting itself by shutting down until her mind has processed the information, bit by bit.
“When will she wake up?” Darhk asks again.
“Soon.” I speak, more for myself than my brother. I know he’s only trying to judge my attachment to her, and that he already got his information directly from the Healer’s mouth. “She will wake up soon.”
Days or weeks. Never. That’s what the Healers said, but I know better. Juliet is strong. Stronger than any of them. She will fight.
“She will come back to me.”
I lean over her, pushing a strand of stray hair out of Juliet’s sleeping face as Darhk looks down on my mate.
“Her ruse bought us the time we needed,” he comments in a low voice, his tone one of detached curiosity.
“She put herself at risk for us, for what we’re trying to accomplish.” Forme. I know it’s true, but I don’t say it.
“She is courageous, I’ll give her that.” Darhk’s voice is sincere, but I sense a reluctance in it. Like he doesn’t want to admit that humans can be as courageous as Drakians, despite all the proof of the contrary.
“She fought like a true warrior. She had them wrapped around her finger the whole time.” I slide my finger along the plump curve of her cheek, marveling at the velvety feel of her skin. “I’ve never seen anyone like her.”
As I talk, Juliet begins to stir. She whimpers and fusses, but her eyes remain stubbornly closed. I waste no time, calling for the attention of the Healer who comes running. He wastes no time, running scans of her vitals, waving his instruments above her still body. A few times, he casts a glance above his shoulder, nervousness calling forth his exoskeleton. It’s not everyday that he has to work under the eyes of the Crown Prince and the High Commander of the Armies.
I ease back, allowing the Healer to take my place at Juliet’s side.
“She’s waking up, Prince Rakir.” The Healer speaks like he can’t believe his own words. “She’s stronger than we anticipated.”
I don’t answer the Healer, taking my place back at Juliet’s side. He retreats to the corner of the room, waiting in silence to be needed again. Juliet’s dark velvet eyes flutter open and closed in fast succession as she fights her way back to the surface.
“That’s it, my Amara, come back to me,” I speak low, my hands trailing to her face. Her eyes finally stay open as she locks gazes with me.
“I slept,” she states simply, fussing on the bed, intent on sitting up. I do not allow her that, not wanting to exhaust her fragile body.
“Rest now,” I hush her and she settles. “Your body was overwhelmed, but the Healers will have you back to normal in no time.”
The corners of her lips lift in that seductive, defiant way of hers and her eyes twinkle with amusement.
“You were scared for me?”
“For the first time in my life, yes,” I freely admit, taking her hands in mine. “And I fully intend to punish you for every second of agony you put me through.”
The barely veiled sexual suggestion makes her gasp and her cheeks flush with bright, lovely color. She glances up to my brother, clearly unsettled by his presence.
Humans are so sensitive when it comes to sex. She will have to learn that Drakians are much more direct.
Darhk looks at her, his face attentive, analytical. Like she’s a subject to be studied, not a woman made of flesh and bone. I refrain the urge to growl at him.
“She’s not so different from our females after all.” He speaks with the same analytical, remote tone. “Smaller, perhaps. Fine boned and weaker, but not entirely meritless.”
